The Northeast 12th Street Bridge in downtown Bellevue is coming down, and that means Interstate 405 will be closing in both directions the first weekend in April.

Contractors for the state Department of Transportation will demolish the 40-year-old bridge to make way for a new, bigger one with enough clearance for multi-level, "braided" on and off-ramps. I-405 is scheduled to shut down between Northeast Eighth Street and SR 520 for 53 hours, from 11 p.m. Friday, April 1, to 4 a.m. Monday, April 4. Northeast 12th Street will be closed between 112th and 116th avenues Northeast.

It's the first time in several years the Eastside's main north-south transportation corridor will be closed in both directions for an entire weekend. WSDOT officials urge travelers to plan ahead to avoid major delays.

While downtown Bellevue will remain accessible, with local detour routes to help guide drivers, travelers heading north or south through the area shoulduse the regional detour via Interstate 5, SR 520 and Interstate 90.

Another option to avoid the I-405 closure area, where nearly 450,000 vehicles pass through in a typical weekend, is to reschedule trips until amore convenient time. You can find a full range of travel options at Choose Your Way Bellevue.